Current-interrupter.



No. 745,280. PATENTED NOV. 24, 1903. T. A. HOUGHTON.

CURRENT INTERRUPTER.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 1, 1903. N0 MODEL.

-----H mun" Wilgzsse QAIIOPIJQyS UNITED STATES Patented November 24, 1903.

PATENT OFFICE.

THOMAS A. I-IOUGI'ITON, OF ROCHESTER, NEWV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO ELECTRO SURGICAL INSTRUMENT CO., OF ROCHESTER, NEW YORK.

CURRENT-INTERRUPTER.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 745,280, dated November 24, 1903.

I Application filed April 1, 1903. Serial No. 150,608. (No model.)

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS A. I-IoUcHroN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Rochester, in the county of Monroe and State of New York, have invented a new and useful Current-Interrupter, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to certain improve ments in current-interrupters of that general to class known as the Wehnelt electrolytic current-interrupters, and has for its principal object to provide a simple, efficient, and thoroughly practical interrupter in which the area of exposed surface of the means for closing the circuit through the solution will be varied, as well as the frequency with which it is exposed, thereby enabling wide variations in the character of the current transmitted therethrough. The frequency of exposure may vary from about eighty to four thousand interruptions per minute, and the potential may run to a high maximum strength and then recede slowly to the minimum or cease altogether and then return slowly to the maximum, lessening the liability of fusing the anode of thev X-ray tube or similar instrument with which the interrupter is connected, this comparatively slow interruption of the current being of considerable o advantage in skiograph-work owing to the great momentary penetrating efiects of the light, whereas a steady current of maximum strength wouldat once fuse the platinum of the anode. The interruptions may also be made very rapidly in order to get an almost continuous flow of current and cause a steady light in the tube.

A further object of the invention is to provide a device of this character in which provision is made for accurate adjustment of the anode in order to expose a greater or less quantity of its surface to the electrolyte and efiect a corresponding increase or decrease in the current.

5 A still further object of the invention is to provide a device-of this character in which the anode remains stationary except during any adjustment which may be desired, while the interruption is caused in part by the movement of an insulating member which shields the anode from the electrolyte.

A still further object of the invention is to provide improved means for keeping the temperature of the electrolyte at a point below 60Celsius, the solution having a tendency to heat when operated continuously for a long period and its action being impaired as the temperature increases or wholly ceasing if heated beyond a given point.

A still further object of the invention is to provide an improved mechanism for efiecting a positive break in the circuit at a point outside the cell or containing vessel for the electrolyte, and, further, to provide improved mechanism for effecting the reciprocating movement of the movable elements of the de- Vice.

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in the novel construction and arrangement of parts, hereinafter described, illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and particularly pointed out in the appended claims, it being understood that various changes in the form, proportions, size, and minor details of construction may be made without departing from the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a longitudinal sectional elevation of a current-interrupter 8o constructed in accordance with the invention. Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the device, partly in section on the line 3 8 of Fig. 1. Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional elevation of a portion of the interrupter on the line 4 4; of Fig. 1 and illustrating more particularly the construction of one of the circuit-breakers located outside the cell. Fig. 5 is a sectional plan view showing the construction of one of the clamping members for the support of the anode insulating tube. Fig. 6 is a detail view, partly in section, showing a modified form of circuit-breaker which may be employed as a substitute for that illustrated in 5 Fig. 4:.

Similar numerals of reference designate corresponding parts in the several figures of the drawings.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a mo jar or cell of any desired form and material and adapted to contain a fluid electrolyte,

such as a dilute solution of sulfuric acid, and 2 is a cap or cover for thejar or cell, said cover being provided with suitable openings for the passage of the anodes and their insulating devices and serving, if necessary, as a support for the cathode element, being preferably provided also with a binding-post 3, to which one of the line-wires leading from a source of electrical energy is attached.

Where current is to be run for any considerable length of time continuously, the acidulated solution becomes heated by electrolytic action, thereby impairing the operation of the device, and if heated to about 60 Celsius ceases entirely. In order to keep the tem perature down to a proper point, the cathode element 4: is in the form of a hollow tube, generally formed of a lead pipe, which may be bent into the form of a worm and having its opposite ends outside the jar or vessel. Through this cathode a continuous stream of cool Water is run in order to keep the temperature down to the proper point, and any suitable means may be employed for maintaining the circulation.

Extending over the jar or cell, and preferably supported independently thereof, is a frame 5, having suitable bearings for the reception of a shaft 6, to which is rigidly secured a driving-pulley 7, and at each end of the shaft are secured crank-disks 8, which by contact with the sides of the frame prevent longitudinal play of said shaft. Secured to and depending from the frame at points below the ends of the shaft are vertically-disposed plates 9, to which are secured guideplates 10 for the reception of vertically-reciprocated cross-heads or plates 11 and 11, respectively, said cross-heads being reciprocated alternately by pitman-rods l2 and 12, having their upper ends connected to wristpins on the crank-disks 8. The guide-plates 10 have their edges overhanging the depending plates 9, and the rear portion of each guide-plate is provided with threaded openings for the passage of screws 16, which impinge on the rear face of the plates 9 and serve as means for moving the guides toward and from the supporting-plates 9 and for adjusting the angular position of the same, screws 17 being employed to hold the guideplates in position. The construction and arrangement of the parts described is such as to permit of the utmost accuracy in adjustment of the position of the vertically-movable cross-heads, and thus permit the proper operation of the anode-insulating devices carried by said cross-heads.

'Secured to each of the cross-heads is an arm 18, provided with a clip or clamp 19, which embraces an anode-insulating member 20, the latter being clamped in position by a thumb-screw 21, which engages the adjacent ends of the clip. The insulating memhers 20 are in the form of glass tubes having contracted lower ends depending into the liquid and extending therethrough or the end of the circuit closers or anodes 22 22 composed of small rods or wires, preferably of platinum, mounted in insulating-sleeves 23 and 23, which are carried by collars or nuts 24 24, having threaded portions adapted to correspondingly-threaded openings in supporting arms or brackets 25, projecting from the upper portion of the main frame 5. At the top of each of the anodes is secured a bindingpost 25, which is connected to one of the line-wires in the manner hereinafter described. The nuts or sleeves 24- and 2-1 permit of vertical adjustmentof the anodes, so that the exposed or active surface thereof may be regulated relatively to the extent of movementof their respective insulating members.

By employing a plurality of anodes I am enabled to increase the range of frequency of the interruptions, and by increasing the exposed surface thereof the potential of the current transmitted is also increased. In the present instance l have shown tWo anodes, and as it is desirable to provide an automatically-operated contact device or circuitbreaker whereby the circuit is broken through all of the anodes with the exception of the one in operative position and through which the circuit is closed I provide upon the arms or brackets 25 two sets of spring contact-finger 26 26 and 27 27, said fingers being arranged in pairs and mounted on blocks of insulating material 28, while each is provided with a separate landing-post, these being indicated at 29 29 and 30 30. The positive current from the line-wire S1 is provided by two branch wires and 33, one of which leads to the binding-post 2i) and the other to the binding-post 30, while the binding-post 29 is connected by a wire 3t to one anode and the binding-post 30 is connected in similar manner by a wire 3% to the second anode. These several members are insulated from each other, so that no current can pass until the depending spring-lingers are electrically connected. The circuit-closing members in the present instance are in the form of metallic strips 35, carried, respectively, by small posts 36 36, respectively, said posts being carried by the clips or clamps 19 and disposed in vertical alinement with the sets of contact-fingers, so that the circuit will be completed alternately through the two anodes, but not through both at the same time.

The operation of the device will be readily understood. Anysuitableform of motor may be employed to rotate the shaft 6, and in the present instance there is shown a belt 40, passing around the pulley 7. The shaft is rotated at any desired speed, resulting in the vertical reciprocation of the two cross-heads l1 and lland the insulating members 20, which they carry, thus alternatelysealing and unsealing the lower ends of the two anodes in the electrolyte. The reciprocation of the cross-heads throws the posts 36 36, having the contact strips 35 35, into and out of engagement with the spring-fingers 26 26 and 27 27, so that the circuit connected with an anode will be positively broken or disconnected when the anode is sealed by its insulating member, thereby directing all of the current into the anode which is unsealed. The frequency of vibrations may be varied by revolving the driving-shaft at a greater or less speed, or one of the anodes may be disconnected entirely from the circuit, as will be readily understood. The intensity of the current interrupted may be varied by adjusting the anodes vertically by means of the collars or nuts 2a 24- to increase or decrease the surface of the anode exposed when it is unsealed by the movement of the insulating tubes or members 20.

The means of effecting the mechanical make and break of the circuits outside the jar or cell may be varied, and in Fig. 6 is illustrated a modified form of circuit-breaker in which one contact is formed by a body of mercury 41, disposed in a suitable vessel 42, with which one of the line-wires is connected. The opposite contact is formed by a depending pin or rod 43, carried at one end of a lever 44, pivoted to a supporting-bracket 45, the opposite end of the lever being engaged by the post or finger 36, which is supported by one of the vertically-reciprocated slides, and in this case a spring as may be employed to connect the lever to the bracket in such manner as to keep the circuit broken, and it will be understood that this or any other suitable form of mechanically-operated circuit-breaker may be employed in place of that described without departingfrom the spirit or sacrificing any of the advantages of the invention.

An interrupter constructed in accordance with my invention is a simple and thoroughly practical device for the production of high or low interruptions of a current, and when employed in connection with an induction-coil remarkable efiects can be produced on account of the greater or less number of interruptions which can be effected in a given time. The device further permits the passage of a great or small amount of current, which increases or decreases the potential in the secondary circuit of the induction-coil, so that discharges of great force and energy may be obtained therefrom with a very small amount of current, while at the same time all danger of overheating from electrolytic action is avoided.

Having thus described the invention, what is claimed is- 1. In a current-interrupter, the combination with a conducting solution, of an energized circuit, having a terminal in the solution and a second terminal for closing the circuit in said solution, a movable insulatingtube surrounding the last-mentioned terminal, means for reciprocating said tube, and a device for adjusting the circuit-closing terminal relatively to said tube.

2. In acurrent-interrupter,thecombination with a conducting solution, of an energized circuit, a cathode forming one terminal of the circuit, an anode forming the other terminal, a movable insulating sleeve or tube for sealing and unsealing the anode, and a circuitbreaker independent of said insulating sleeve or tube and adapted to form a positive make and break in the circuit independent of the make and break formed by the movement of the insulating means.

3. In acurrent-interrupter,the combination with a conducting solution, of an energized circuit including a cathode and a plurality of anodes, movable insulating means for sealing and unsealing the latter, and auxiliary contact-breakers for breaking the circuit through the sealed anodes and adapted to form a positive make and break in the circuit independent of the make and break formed by the movement of the insulating means.

a. In a current-interrupter,the combination with a conducting solution, of an energized circuit including a cathode and a plurality of anodes, movable insulating means for sealing and unsealing the latter, and circuitbreakers for alternately closing the circuit through the respective anodes.

5. In a current-interrupter,the combination with a conducting solution, of a generator, an energized circuit including a cathode and a plurality of anodes, movable insulating means for sealing and unsealingj the latter, contact members for alternately making and breaking the circuit through the anodes, and means for operating the insulating means and contact members.

6. In a current-interrupter,the combination with a conducting solution, of an energized circuit including a cathode and a plurality of anodes, anode-insulating members, means for reciprocating said members to alternately seal and unseal the anodes, circuit-breakers operated by said means to open and close the circuit through the respective anodes when the latter are sealed and unsealed respectively.

7. In a current-interrupter,the combination with a conducting solution, of an energized circuit including a cathode and a plurality of anode elements, insulating members for said anode elements, means for reciprocating the members to alternately seal and unseal said elements, circuit-breakers for each anode arranged in the circuit, and means reciprocating with the insulating members to close the circuit through unsealed anode elements and to open the circuit of sealed anode elements.

8. In an interrupter, the combination with a cell containing a conducting solution, of a cathode, a frame, a shaft carried thereby, means for revolving the same, a pair of cross heads, crank-disks carried by the shaft and connected to said cross heads, adjustable anodes, insulating tubes surrounding the anodes and supported by said cross-heads,and circuit-breakers also carried by the crossheads and arranged in the interrupter-circuit.

9. in an interrupter, the combination with a cell containing a conducting solution, of a cathode, a frame having guides thereon, a revoluble shaft journaled in the frame, crossheads mounted in the guides, crank connections between the cross-heads and the shaft, an energized circuit of which the cathode forms one terminal, a plurality of anode elements arranged in the solution, insulating members inc-losing the anodes and carried by said cross-heads to alternately seal and unseal said elements, circuit-breakers arranged 

